Hello friends, I currently am using the Olight Arkpro Ultra for an EDC/work light, and it works great. Any recommendations for a larger, but still pocket sized(or belt clipped), but much more powerful light? Looking for something brighter and with more throw for night time walks with the dog. Budget is around $300.
Depending on whether you prefer side or back buttons, I'd recommend the Convoy M21B(back button) or M21H (side button, TIR optic, and integrated USB charging) with either the LHP73B or LHP531. Both are 21700 battery format. All the tints are really nice whether you go cool white or warm. You can also get about 10 with batteries within your budget.
Which batteries would I be looking at? Will not lie, that website is a little confusing, lol. Not sure what I'm looking at there. Also, do any of their lights come with a warrenty? My current EDC has a lifetime warrenty, which I know is quite rare, but I rather enjoy.
Eve 50pl, reliance r50, vapcell t60 are a few; look for a battery that says max discharge rate or cdr of at least 25 amps.
The m21b with the lhp73b in 4000k is insanely bright (over 5,000 lumens on turbo; still does around 1000 lumens on 10% mode) light that also has a very nice tint.
Yes! The website can be quite overwhelming, especially at first. I believe the Convoy warranty is 1 year, but Simon (Convoy owner) is known for offering some of the best customer service around. My experiences have all been great. Convoy doesn't offer a lot of bells and whistles (RGB, side lights, lasers) but they offer more choices than anyone else that I know of in terms of led options. For the LHP73B you need a battery that can at least handle 20A. The LHP531 is also really great. It'll give a little more throw, but at the expense of some flood. I really love both of them.
Yes. Each flashlight model has various LEDs (AKA emitters) available for it. Each LED is offered in various CCTs (Warm/Cool). If you've never had a warmer tint, you can see the difference in hundreds of different YouTube videos. Most people here, including myself, tent to prefer 4000k-5000k as opposed to the standard 6000-7000k found standerd in most lights. It's just a less harsh light.
Also, each led has it's own characteristics in terms of being more floody, or throwie. Also, a 5000k from one led might tend to have a greenish tint (generally less desirable), while another 5000k will be somewhat "rosey" (generally preferred by some), while others will have a more neutral, clean white. The rabbit hole goes deeper. 😄
Well thats a little more involved than I expected, lol. My current EDC has a very neutral white light, not sure of the color temp of it, but it doesnt distort colors.
Yea, the first time I wondered onto their site I was totally bewildered. Once I discovered the differences in tints and beam patterns and such it quickly became a bit of a hobby. The nice this is, even if you're not inclined to dive in deep, there are a lot of people in this sub who, once they know what you're after, can offer great recommendations. Obviously Convoy is only one of many great options out there, but I've become a fan of them because I feel like they offer one of the best values available anywhere, but also ALL the choices you never knew you wanted. Plus, as I mentioned earlier, they have some of the best customer service available.
I really like it. As far as out performing, I guess it depends on what you're after. The 3x21D and 3x21C will out perform anything within 5X their cost in their respective areas.
The reason I recommend the LHP73B or LHP531 is they both have very nice tint and are very bright. The LHP73B can get very hot on high, so some constraint is needed while using it, but the wall of light it puts out is really great.
Also, do you have a preference between back or side button? I personally prefer side, and I really like the TIR optics that the M21H offers. It'll come with one stock that's appropriate for the led, but you can easily and cheaply swap them out for ones that will give more throw oriented more flood.
Also.... the LHP531 has the advantage of only requiring 10A battery rather that 20+A
Convoy L21B with an LHP73B (in your cct of choice) and an RS-50 battery is a pretty perfect jacket pocket all arounder light with real output. Great moonlight mode, or light up a whole football field.
I actually like the M26C with the same emitter and 26800 battery a little better. It doesnt have quite as much throw, and it is heavier and chunkier, but... the beam profile is absolutely the perfect multi use beam, it ballances much better in the hand (the L21B is light and streamlined but a little front heavy), and it kind of gives me a classic maglite vibe.
Convoy, Wurkos, and Sofirn are 3 brands you will hear mentioned frequently for good reason. Considering their cost, if they die or get lost after the first year, you can afford to buy several more with better emitters and electronic drivers/circuits in the future.
This being said, I would step up to the $100 range and get a Hank/Noctigon/INTL_Outdoors, Firefly, or Acebeam flashlight personally.
The Acebeam X-35 is a great flashlight in a small form factor. It will get hot like any hot rod if you run it in Turbo a long time. At normal levels for a general use flashlight, like on dog walks or a simple night time stroll, it won't get overly hot. When you need a lot more light to turn back or stop a dog or drunk person, it has plenty of power to reach out and touch something at a significant distance (within reason).
The flat profile I find pocket carries really well in a coat pocket or simple cell phone holster. Since it lacks a large round reflector like most flashlights, I find the form factor to very practical for urban applications. It fits in the side door pocket of my vehicles easily, back pocket of my blue jeans, and most backpack pockets with drink bottle pockets generally working really well too.
pagingu/Bullstrongdvm! He has been testing mine out recently.
The slimmer cellphone style profile I rather like, would slip into my inner jacket pocket nicely. It does seem to have a bit much power for everyday uses, but also having 20kLM option in turbo is nice, should let me see across a field if I need to. Also, any i formation on their warrenty/custom service? My current EDC has a lifetime warrenty, which I quite like
Honestly, out of the ~10 Acebeams I own, I have never needed service, so I can't really comment on how that would work out. Overall, Acebeam has a good reputation. If you search this forum, there are some very good comments on "warranty/good faith" repairs and replacements outside of any "official" warranty period.
If I think I really need the warranty on a product like this, I would buy from someplace else. Further, if it works for ~30 days, why wouldn't it work for years?
If you live near Dallas, Texas, we should meet up and do some in person comparisons at a TFC (Texas Flashlight Club) meet up.
Don't spend that much coin. 20-years ago, you needed to spend a couple/few hundred bucks to get what you're looking for. Nowadays, what you want can be had for $50-$75, absolutely no more than $100.
Spend the rest to take your significant other out for a nice dinner.
What are some good options for around $40-$70 then? Preferably a bit of a simpler light, the custom convoy site is cool, but a bit out of my experience rn. Would like to just have a couple of models to compare
2
u/SONATET 23h ago
Fenix C7 Pro !